It was every king’s worst nightmare. War was coming. In covert meetings, neighboring kings had plotted an invasion. In clandestine gatherings, military leaders had strategized an attack. In agreement and anticipation, troops from three kingdoms had amassed, organizing themselves in a battle array. They had set out on their march days before, making their destination no secret. They were headed to eradicate Judah and Jerusalem. Even now they were determinedly marching closer. Freshly sharpened spears and swords gleamed in the sunlight. Chain mail clanked with every metered step. Bloodlust gleamed from eyes hooded by battle helmets. The air around them crackled with arrogant impatience. They were anxious for the battle. Hungry for war. Thirsty for blood. Anticipating the win. Never once did they consider the alternative. It wouldn’t happen. Their chosen foe was nearly powerless against them. Victory would be theirs. Celebratory smiles split beards at the knowledge their target was satisfactorily terrified.
The news was horrifying. Petrifying. The most alarming message to come King Jehoshaphat’s way since he’d come to power. His thoughts reeled. Three kingdoms. Thousands of soldiers. More power than his little group of men could possibly withstand. They were destined to fail. Judah and Jerusalem would fall to the angry mob. He was at a loss. There was little they could do. In fact, he could think of only one plausible strategy. They must pray. Not just the king. Not just the priests. Not just the soldiers. No. Everyone needed to pray. Men. Women. Children. Young and old. Healthy and infirmed. Highest royal to lowest pauper. They needed to pray. Immediately. Incessantly. Fervently. Cry out to God for wisdom, direction, and preservation. In this time of pressing crisis, utterly helpless on their own, the only possible plan for salvation would have to come from their omnipotent God.
Jehoshaphat’s calls to prayer and fasting did not go unheeded. The people came in droves. Sensing the direness of the situation, entire families abandoned their homes and towns to come stand before the temple of the Lord. Facing his people, Jehoshaphat urgently prayed words similar to those of his predecessor, King Solomon, on the day of temple dedication. They knew their God was omnipotent. No one could stand against Him. They knew their God was omniscient. No one could out-strategize Him. They believed the promise that when they stood in God’s presence, before His temple, and cried out to Him in their distress He would rush to their aid. They trusted that, in their current position, poised on the edge of total annihilation, powerless to defend themselves, scared, anxious, overwhelmed, their God knew what to do. And they were right. He did. (II Chronicles 6:14-42; 20:1-13)
Either in instant answer to their prayer or because time was of the essence, the Spirit of the Lord filled Jahaziel and he spoke God’s reassuring words of preservation and direction to the people’s ears. Relax. Don’t be afraid. Don’t let discouragement curve your shoulders. God’s got this. Yes, the oncoming army is enormous. Yes, their spears and swords are sharply honed. Yes, the archers marching toward you are excellent marksmen. But. This is not your battle. It’s God’s battle. His strategy is unbeatable. The use of spears and swords, arrows and armor is unnecessary. No one needs to lift a finger. Just go out, line up in battle order, stand firm, and watch God work. Trust Him to keep His word. God’s got this. (II Chronicles 20:14-17)
Elation swept through the congregation as the reassuring words of the Lord promised them, without caveat, that deliverance was coming. The heralded onslaught would be more spectacle than battle. There would be no fighting by the men of Judah and Jerusalem. No injuries. No death. No mourning. It wasn’t going to happen. God had spoken. At a time when neighboring kingdoms expected to hear the grind of spears on sharpening stones, they heard uproarious rejoicing instead. In glorious celebration of the promised victory, the people fell on their faith-filled faces in worship before the Lord. In that moment, with the words of deliverance echoing in their ears, it would surely have been humanly impossible to remain silent at the promise of God’s all-consuming power moving heaven and earth to come to their aid. But one has to wonder how long it lasted. How long did their faith remain unshakeable? Minutes? Hours? As day turned to night, did the darkness bring with it doubts and fears, worries and concerns? Did their trust wobble? Their faith waver? Were their minds overtaken with all the “what if” questions of the evil one? What if Jahaziel made it all up? What if he was working for the other guys? What if God didn’t really say those things? What if they were heading out to battle thinking they would be saved, only to be slaughtered? What would happen to their wives and children, the aged and infirmed, if they somehow had gotten the wrong answer and walked into a death trap?
No matter the questions that teased and taunted their minds in the pre-dawn hours, those men still turned up to march into battle the next morning. Assembling before their king, they were unable to hide the unease resulting from the night’s fretful thoughts. Jehoshaphat didn’t miss it. He noticed the eyes filled with shadows. He saw worry lines and wrinkling foreheads. He overheard a few concerned whispers. He knew he had to do something. They would never survive without their faith in God. Standing up in the back of his chariot, Jehoshaphat faced his men, and issued the best battle advice he had. Have faith in God. Believe He will do what He says. Trust God’s prophets. Believe they speak words from God’s lips to your ears. Remember that God never abandons His people. Straighten your spines, bolster your faith, and let God do what God will do.
Wisely knowing that his words alone would not increase their faith for the duration of their journey, Jehoshaphat then employed the most effective battle strategy imaginable. Praise. Appointing leaders to march ahead of the army singing songs of praise to God, he reminded any concerned member that God inhabits the praise of His people. Those men took their job seriously! Blending their voices together they matched their steps to the rhythm of their praise. Praise the Lord. Praise Him for the splendor of his holiness. Praise His majesty. Glory in His power and strength. Thank Him for His love that never gives up no matter how far, how often, how flagrantly His people stray. Praise the Lord for His steadfast, unfailing love, mercy and grace. Praise the Lord for the promised victory. Praise the Lord for their safe return. Praise the Lord for His faithfulness to His people and His word. Praise the Lord! (Psalm 22:3; Nehemiah 8:10)
As the words left the leader’s lips, faith rose. One by one the voices behind them joined in their chorus. When the powerful praises of those marching soldiers left their lips to ascend to God’s ears, God went to work. Ambushes sprang up against the oncoming armies. Infighting kicked off among them. The Ammonites and Moabites joined forces against the men from Mount Seir. Upon eradication of that faction, they turned on one another. The fighting was fierce and bloody. The death toll was astronomical. The intended battle would never occur. By the time Jehoshaphat and his troops reached the battlefield, the only thing left to do was plunder the spoils. Equipment. Clothing. Valuables. An amount so great it took their entire army three days to collect it all. And when they were done collecting it, they returned to Jerusalem, headed straight to the temple of the Lord, and picked up where awe at God’s staggering victory had left them speechless. They found their voices again and joined the harps and lyres and trumpets in magnificent praise to their triumphant God who speaks victory into impossible, improbable, insuperable circumstances. I wish we would follow suit. (II Chronicles 20:18-29; Luke 1:37)
In a world of spiritual slipping and sliding, at a time when morals and ethics have taken a decided downward turn, in a society where evil is pronounced good and good made evil, when the news of the world is inundated with hopelessness and despair, the people of God need to get on their knees in battle formation and earnestly praise. Yes. You read that right. Praise. Recount the attributes of our spectacularly extraordinary God. Sing of His love and grace and mercy. Talk about His faithfulness and goodness. Bolster your faith with praise for His power and strength. Speak the truth of God’s sovereignty, His authority over all things. Rest your tired, worried, fretting soul in His unfathomable ability to handle the situations that bring you to your knees before Him over and over again. Why? Because when God’s people engage in the art of praise, God responds. (Psalm 36:5; Isaiah 45:7-9; Colossians 1:16-17; Acts 16:16-26; Isaiah 25:1)
Ask Jehoshaphat. It wasn’t some grand military strategy. It wasn’t his extensive understanding of the art of war. It wasn’t him or his men at all. It was God. As their praises ascended to heaven, God’s power descended to earth in miraculous victory. The art of praise won an unbelievable victory. And it can happen for us too. In our day of drifting. In our season of succumbing. In your war against spiritual waning. You can experience amazing victory. Whatever you are facing, struggling with, worrying over. Whatever insurmountable obstacle blocks your path. Whatever you’ve been praying over for weeks, months, years. God is able. God is interested. God is working. Even when you don’t see what He is doing. Even when you can’t fathom a positive outcome. He is still busy. So. Have faith in God. Believe His promises. Trust His words. And praise. With every breath. With every thought. With every word. Wield the art of praise like the sharpest battle axe against the enemy and watch God move in ways you never dreamed possible. In everything, in every way, with every breath, every day, let everyone praise the Lord! (Psalm 34:1; Philippians 4:4-9; Psalm 147-150; Mark 11:22-23; II Chronicles 20:22)